Lions coach: Cowboys have 'one of the best coaches in the league'

This Story is About...

Share This Story On...

Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett throws the challenge flag on a touchdown by Dez Brant during the first half of the Dallas Cowboys-Washington Redskins NFL football game at FedEx Field in Landover, MD, on Dec 28, 2014. (Michael Ainsworth/The Dallas Morning News)

IRVING — At the end of Jason Garrett’s news conference Monday, he was asked if he had any New Year’s resolutions.

Obviously the reporter hadn’t paid attention to Garrett since he became the Cowboys’ coach midway through the 2010 season.

Garrett is all about the same message. Day after day after day, Garrett asks his players to prepare, focus on being the best versions of themselves and control what they can control. He says it’s all about the process.

Despite three consecutive 8-8 seasons, Garrett never wavered in his message or with his plan. Now his hardheaded approach is paying dividends.

The Cowboys won the NFC East, have a 12-4 record, are in the playoffs for the first time since 2009, and Garrett is a leading candidate for NFL Coach of the Year.

“It’s been consistent since he’s been here,” Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said Wednesday. “More now than ever, he’s laid out a blueprint, and we’ve seen that it has worked and guys have followed it.”

After the Cowboys looked awful in the season-opening loss to San Francisco, Garrett was about the only one who remained optimistic.

Said Witten: “He just pointed out a lot of things we did well and talked about, ‘Guys, if we continue to do these things, we’re going to be a really good team.’ ... Our team understood, ‘Yeah, I kind of get what he’s saying.’ I’ve followed the formula he’s talked about all camp. If we stick to that, we’ll have success.”

Garrett has proved to be a great communicator. No matter how mundane he comes across to the public and the media, he has a way of getting his message across behind closed doors.

“Jason has the pulse of the team,” quarterback Tony Romo said. “He’s done a great job motivating. He’s just a great leader and someone that everyone looks to. He’s done a great job this year.”

Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell, also a top candidate for NFL Coach of the Year, said Wednesday that the Cowboys have “one of the best coaches in the league.”

“He’s multifaceted,” Caldwell said. “He does a great job with handling some real complex issues that this game requires at this level. He’s been able to hang in there and get his team to perform extremely well. And he’s a great communicator.”

While we all come up with different New Year’s resolutions for 2015, Garrett will stick to his process. His steadfast approach has worked out well for him.

“He’s created an environment that makes you excited to come to work every day and play for a guy like that,” Witten said.